Optical connections having magnetic coupling

Abstract

Optical connections for optical communication having in-line optical paths and magnetic coupling portions are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical connection includes a lens block having an optical interface portion that defines an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block, and a magnetic coupling portion disposed about at least a portion of the lens block. In another embodiment, a method of making an optical connection that includes providing a circuit board having one or more active components and placing a lens block on the circuit board. The lens block includes an optical interface portion defining an in-line optical path. The method further includes placing at least one magnetic coupling portion about the lens block. The at least one magnetic coupling portion is configured as a bulk magnetic material. Electronic devices and fiber optic cable assemblies are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical connection comprising:
 a lens block comprising an optical interface portion that defines an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block; and 
 a circuit board, wherein the lens block is attached to a surface of the circuit board; and 
 a magnetic coupling portion surrounding at least a portion of the optical interface portion. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical connection of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling portion comprises at least one coded magnetic array. 
     
     
       3. The optical connection of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one coded magnetic array comprises a plurality of magnetic regions magnetized according to a magnetic coding pattern. 
     
     
       4. The optical connection of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling portion comprises one or more individual magnets. 
     
     
       5. The optical connection of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one alignment fiducial disposed on the lens block adjacent to the optical interface portion. 
     
     
       6. The optical connection of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one alignment fiducial is a recessed cavity. 
     
     
       7. The optical connection of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one alignment fiducial is a cross-shaped recess cavity. 
     
     
       8. The optical connection of  claim 1 , wherein the lens block comprises a lens surface having at least one lens element defining at least one optical channel. 
     
     
       9. The optical connection of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one lens element comprises at least two adjacent lens elements. 
     
     
       10. The optical connection of  claim 9 , wherein a spacing between the at least two adjacent lens elements is less than 800 μm. 
     
     
       11. The optical connection of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lens block comprises an integrally formed mounting structure; and 
 the lens block is coupled to the circuit board by the integrally formed mounting structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The optical connection of  claim 1 , further comprising a metallic shield disposed between the magnetic coupling portion and the circuit board. 
     
     
       13. An electronic device comprising:
 a housing defining a major surface and a minor surface; and 
 an optical connection disposed in the major surface of the housing, the optical connection comprising:
 a lens block comprising an optical interface portion that defines an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block; 
 a circuit board, wherein the lens block is attached to a surface of the circuit board; and 
 a magnetic coupling portion disposed about at least a portion of the lens block. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the magnetic coupling portion comprises at least one coded magnetic array. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one coded magnetic array comprises a plurality of magnetic regions magnetized according to a magnetic coding pattern. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 13 , further comprising a circuit board having one or more active components, wherein:
 the optical interface portion of the lens block is aligned over the one or more active components; and 
 an optical axis of the optical connection is generally normal to the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 16 , further comprising a metallic shield disposed between the magnetic coupling portion and the circuit board. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one alignment fiducial disposed on the lens block adjacent to the optical interface portion. 
     
     
       19. The optical connection of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one alignment fiducial is a recessed cavity. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the optical interface portion is surface accessible. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein a surface of the optical interface portion is coplanar with the major surface of the housing. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein a surface of the magnetic coupling portion is coplanar with the major surface of the housing. 
     
     
       23. A method of making an optical connection, comprising:
 providing a circuit board having one or more active components; 
 placing a lens block on the circuit board, the lens block comprising an optical interface portion defining an in-line optical path without an optical turn for optical signals propagating through the lens block, wherein the lens block comprises at least one integrally formed mounting structure; 
 securing the lens block to the circuit board using the at least one integrally formed mounting structure; and 
 placing at least one magnetic coupling portion about the lens block, the at least one magnetic coupling portion being a bulk magnetic material. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising applying a magnetic coding pattern to the bulk magnetic material using one or more reference fiducials, thereby forming a coded magnetic array comprising a plurality of magnetic regions defining the magnetic coding pattern. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the lens block further comprises a lens surface comprising one or more lens elements substantially aligned with the one or more active components; and 
 the magnetic coding pattern is applied to the bulk magnetic material using the one or more lens elements as the one or more reference fiducials. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , further comprising providing a metallic shield about the lens block. 
     
     
       27. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the magnetic coupling portion comprises a bulk magnetic material surrounding at least a portion of the optical interface portion, the bulk magnetic material providing at least one coded magnetic array. 
     
     
       28. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the minor surface is an edge of the electronic device; and 
 the major surface is a backside of the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       29. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the lens block comprises at least one integrally formed mounting structure; and 
 the lens block is coupled to the circuit board by the integrally formed mounting structure. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one integrally formed mounting structure is recessed within a surface of the circuit board.